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Magnetic Recording History Pictures 3

Magnetic Recording History Pictures 3

Magnetic Recording History Pictures 3

Fidelipac of 1962,
from Electronic World, Nov. 1966

Fidelipac of 1962,
from Electronic World, Nov. 1966

Fidelipac 4-track tape cartridge system with 300 ft. of 1/4-in. tape that ran at 3-3/4 ips for up to 1200 ft. for two hours of music, equivalent to four LP albums. This cartridge was used by Earl Muntz in California in 1962, thus inaugurating the cartridge tape player market for automobiles. Muntz also sold a library of 3000 titles licensed from 40 record companies. In the 1960s, Muntz sold about half of the 700,000 Fidelipac-type players.

Lear of 1965,
from Electronic World, Nov. 1966

Lear of 1965,
from Electronic World, Nov. 1966

Lear 8-track cartridge diagram for the 1/4-in. tape system developed by Lear Jet for the Ford new car models of 1965, with a tape library provided by RCA Victor. Chrysler autos and Capitol records soon followed and 8-track surpassed the Fidelipac system.